A guide to the Iranian airports Iraqis use — Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Rasht, Ahvaz and Kish — with each airport's location, distance and transport.
🔍 Search & book your flightKnowing the right airport and how far it sits from the city center saves you time and effort. Iran combines large international airports with smaller city airports. This guide reviews the airports Iraqis arrive at, with notes on location, distance and how to get around so you reach your destination smoothly.
Mashhad International (MHD) is the first gateway for pilgrims, close to the city with easy access to the holy shrine by taxi or ride apps. It handles the heaviest ziyarah traffic from Iraq, especially in peak seasons.
Tehran has two airports. Imam Khomeini International (IKA) sits about 30 km southwest of the city and handles international flights. Mehrabad (THR), inside the city, mostly serves domestic flights. Qom is reached via IKA and then a short road trip.
Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International (IFN) serves Isfahan, and Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International (SYZ) serves Shiraz. Both lie relatively close to their city centers, convenient for reaching the main tourist sites.
Rasht — Sardar-e-Jangal (RAS) is the gateway to the green north, Tabriz International (TBZ) serves the northwest and its UNESCO bazaar, and Ahvaz — Qasem Soleimani International (AWZ) lies close to the Iraqi border in the southwest.
Kish International (KIH) serves the free-trade island on the Gulf. From every Iranian airport, taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Snapp and Tapsi make it easy to reach the city and your hotel.
Mashhad International Airport (MHD), close to the city and the holy shrine.
International flights usually land at Imam Khomeini (IKA), about 30 km southwest of Tehran, while Mehrabad (THR) mostly handles domestic flights.
Qom has no airport; from Imam Khomeini (IKA) it is about an hour and a half by road.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Snapp and Tapsi are widely available at Iranian airports.
